Directed by Dave Filoni. With Pedro Pascal, Amy Sedaris, Jake Cannavale, Ming-Na Wen. The Mandalorian helps a rookie bounty hunter who is in over his head.
Another generally middling episode. I hope this hasn’t run itself off the rails…
Category: Watch
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard. With Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Julia Jones, Isla Farris. The Mandalorian teams up with an ex-soldier to protect a village from raiders.
Hello Seven Samurai, but with only the budget for two. This episode seems to be getting a bit pedestrian in comparison with the others. It’s an interesting respite from the tension of the previous episodes and likely the coming ones which likely wrap up a season long story arc.
It’s definitely a good place to take a break before finishing of the remaining episodes tomorrow.
In looking up the cast, and particularly the lead, I’m noticing that I know this actor incredibly well. I represented him many moons ago, but at the time he was struggling with using half a dozen different names depending on the roles he wanted. It’s interesting to see that all these years later he’s playing the role of a character who never takes off his mask! It also brings into high relief the fact that this is a difficult role to play and a painful character to try to read since there are absolutely no facial cues to read. The character is a cipher with only his actions to judge him.
Directed by Deborah Chow. With Pedro Pascal, Werner Herzog, Omid Abtahi, Carl Weathers. The battered Mandalorian returns to his client for his reward.
I really appreciate the framing of the Mandalorian religion. This just keeps getting better.
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa. With Pedro Pascal, Nick Nolte, Misty Rosas, Stephen Jackson Powers Jr.. Target in hand, the Mandalorian must now contend with scavengers.
It’s not just me that sees the Mandalorian’s ship flying around who then thinks, “That totally looks like an outline of a uterus.” It’s even more apt when thinking about baby Yoda’s egg shaped pram.
This is definitely going to turn into a binge. The only question is one night or two?
Directed by Dave Filoni. With Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Werner Herzog, Omid Abtahi. A Mandalorian bounty hunter tracks a target for a well-paying client.
A solid opening with some serious production value. A great cast despite most of the season being populated with some great character actors and relative unknowns. Herzon is wonderful and Weathers seems a nod to the cheesiness of Billy Dee Williams having been Lando, but without being as out of place.
Directed by Domee Shi. With Sindy Lau, Sharmaine Yeoh, Tim Zhang. A Chinese-Canadian woman suffering from empty nest syndrome gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes alive.
Wow! What an allegory here. This had someone balling for about 20 minutes at the eating of the bao…
Directed by Kristen Lester. With Bret 'Brook' Parker, Michael Daley, Michael Frederickson, Erik Langley. An earnest ball of yarn named Purl gets a job at a fast-paced, high energy, male-centric start-up. Things start to unravel as she tries to fit in with this close-knit group. Purl must ask herself how far is she willing to go to get the acceptance she yearns for and in the end is it worth it?
A cute, yet effective short little film with a solid message.
Directed by George Lucas. With Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd. Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their old glory.
Thought I’d go back and re-watch the canon in story-time chronological order.
I’m still not happy with the heavy handed stereotyping that occurs in this film. I’m still not a Jar Jar fan either. He and Anakin benefit from far too much deus ex machina in this episode.
Rating: ★★½
Directed by Brad Falchuk. With Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch. Kurt tries out for the football team in order to impress his dad. Sandy and Sue join forces to carry out their plans for destroying Glee Club.
Directed by John Scott. With Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch. Will forms an all-male acapella vocal group, spending more time building his own confidence and more time away from the Glee Club.
Directed by Ryan Murphy. With Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch. Glee Club performs in front of the school for the first time and surprises everyone in the audience. Meanwhile, Rachel realizes her feelings for Finn.
Directed by Ryan Murphy. With Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch. High school teacher Will Schuester tries to reinvent McKinley High School's Glee Club.
With Maggie Siff, Mark Cuban, Luisa Kroll, Bernie Sanders. Explained looks at the recent growth in the number of billionaires in the world. With much of the world's wealth in the hands of so few people, what impact does that have on society? It looks at the first billionaires who were the products of the gilded age and discusses how most billionaires make their money.
With LaKeith Stanfield, Catherine Oxenberg, Laura Johnston Kohl, Janja Lalich. How do cults lure people in and exert control? Learn a cult's telltale signs, and how loneliness and life online makes indoctrination easier than ever.
A fascinating short take on cults with some relatively recent history within the United States. It’s interesting to think about how the definition and details presented here relate to how our current US president has turned the Republican Party into a cult.
I haven’t heard it in a while, but Reza Aslan mentions the old saw “cult + time = religion” in here.
With Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith. In the series' first Italian Week, the competition heats up as the bakers take on Sicilian cannoli, margherita pizza, and sfogliatelle.